Something to Think About
Don Michael, WVFB Director of Governmental Affairs
Summer Excitement –
For the Michael family summer
exploded with excitement as
we joined our son Chris, wife
Kate, and others in welcoming a
new member to the clan on June
25 – our first grandson, Garrett
Kentlee Michael. We praise God
for His gift of this bundle of joy!
Shortly after Garrett’s birth my wife and I
found ourselves engulfed in the always suspenseful
and exciting State FFA Convention and Leadership
Conference at Cedar Lakes. More than 800 FFA
members, agriculture teachers/FFA Advisors,
program donors and guests assembled for this 87th
gathering of agriculture’s blue and gold family,
where the theme was “Go All Out.” WVFB
President Charles Wilfong recognized Ashley
Shamblin, Ravenswood FFA, as West Virginia’s
Star Farmer for 2015. The $500 award and plaque
are sponsored annually by Farm Bureau. Our
organization and its members were quite visible in
terms of their efforts in “going all out” to make a
positive difference in the lives of FFA members:
Farm Bureau received FFA’s Distinguished Service
Award; five members received the Honorary State
FFA Degree – Kevin Butcher (Gilmer County FB),
Delegate Denise Campbell (Randolph County
FB), Dinah Hannah (Lewis County FB), Delegate
Lynwood “Woody” Ireland (Ritchie County FB),
Ralph Warren (Greenbrier County FB); and Don
Michael (Tyler County FB) received the West
Virginia FFA VIP Award.
Past State FFA Officers were again highly
visible at Friday night’s FFA Foundation Auction held
in conjunction with FFA Convention. In fact it was
historical in terms of four past presidents in attendance
– Duane Adams (South Harrison, 1982-83), David
Bourgeois (Ripley, 1976-77), Jim Eisentrout (Bruceton
Mills, 1979-80) and Charles Wilfong (Pocahontas
County, 1978-79). These respected FFA leaders hold
a unique place in FFA’s storied history, having served
in a state leadership capacity for three years, with each
serving consecutively as Vice President, Secretary and
President. Each continued a fourth year as an exofficio member of the State FFA Executive Committee
and FFA Governing Body – a remarkable 16 years of
combined service to WV FFA members . . . and they
continue to devote time, energy and financial resources
to move FFA forward! One side note – David, Jim and
Charles are active Farm Bureau members. Back to the
Foundation Auction, those present were most generous
in digging into their pockets to spend nearly $8,000
to benefit those amazing young men and women in
the blue and gold jackets. Since 1991 the WV FFA
Foundation has been able to provide support in the
amount of $242,252.27 to the WV FFA Association for
member scholarships and awards, as well as leadership
programming . . . all thanks to donors and those who
support the annual auction. Farm Bureau appreciates
the many friends of agriculture who are helping to
build America’s future through FFA.
A few days prior to writing this article my
two sons and I headed to Great American Ballpark
in Cincinnati for three days of excitement and fun
associated with Major League Baseball’s Annual AllStar Game. While we had a wonderful time filled with
memories we will treasure, the most refreshing moment
occurred as players were introduced for the All-Star
Legends and Celebrity Softball Game. The two teams
featured baseball legends, country music and movie
personalities, Olympic stars, OSU Football Coach
Urban Meyer and others. BUT only two received
standing ovations during introductions – Wounded
Warrior participants! America’s baseball family in
Cincy had it right. Their priorities were in order as they
saluted those who protect our freedoms . . . and that
excitement made us proud to be Americans and is a
moment we will not forget from our All-Star experience.
I leave you with the conclusion from a recent
email received from a friend – “The nicest place to
be is in someone’s thoughts. The safest place is to
be in someone’s prayers, and the best place is to be
in the hands of God.” Here’s wishing you and your
loved ones God’s richest blessings for the remainder
of summer and the seasons to come – KEEP
SMILING FRIENDS.
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 5